Things I wish I knew before I started working in Norway

Starting a new job can feel daunting at the best of times. Do I have the right skills? Will they like me? Is the coffee any good?

Starting a professional career in a new country, on the other hand, comes with another level of challenges.

We’ve spoken to a few international Tekna members about what they wish they knew before embarking on their Norwegian adventure – and what advice they would give a compatriot about to do the same.

The importance of patience

Krzysztof Szczurek’s journey in robotics and immersive technologies has taken him from Poland – via Switzerland, Spain and Germany – to Norway, where he’s embraced an exciting chapter in the field of humanoid robotics at 1X Technologies, headquartered in Moss, Norway, and Sunnyvale, Silicon Valley.

Krzysztof Szczurek

“As an expat, navigating professional settings in unfamiliar languages has its challenges, such as missing subtle nuances in jokes or informal chats, often vital for building rapport. However, Norway's international teams prioritize effective communication, and tools like real-time translation apps can effectively bridge the gap”, he says.

Scuba diving in Norway taught Krzysztof an equally unexpected and important lesson about communication.

“During a January dive in -10°C weather, the Norwegian briefing left me reliant on my buddy’s concise translations, without which key details like the shipwreck location or pickup plans would have been a mystery. Such experiences underscore the value of speaking Norwegian for hobbies and social integration.”

Krzysztof Szczurek likes scuba diving in Norway

Although Norway “excels in many areas”, in Krzysztof’s own words, one thing he underestimated was the patience required for administrative processes like obtaining residency confirmation and BankID (a personal electronic identification method).

“These delays impacted essential tasks, such as opening a bank account, importing my car, or accessing healthcare. Nonetheless, the warmth and helpfulness of Norwegians made the wait more manageable.”

Balance and trust

Coming to Norway from even further away is Xiaopeng Li, who currently works at Google as an AI Go-to-Market Strategy Leader as well as being a co-founder of Oslo AI, the largest AI community in Norway with more than 3000 members.

A year after finishing his duo master degrees in the Netherlands and Sweden, he decided to move to Oslo to join an innovation team within the telecom company Telia.

Xiaopeng Li

Although there are a variety of cultural differences between China and Norway, Xiaopeng reckons he’s probably started to take things for granted after living here for more than eight years. Still, there are a few things he would recommend newcomers to be aware of.

“Norwegians are generally reserved and less talkative compared to many other Europeans. It takes time – or alcohol – for them to warm up. They tend to refrain from speaking up or standing out, especially at work settings”, Xiaopeng says.

"Norway is also a trust-based society, as reflected in the public transport hop on/off system"

On the other hand, he points out, Norwegians truly value work/life balance and tend to prioritize family and personal life over work.

“This means extended leave during summer and holiday periods, and almost complete disconnection from work calls, texts and emails during their leave”, Xiaopeng says, adding: “Norway is also a trust-based society, as reflected in the public transport hop on/off system, as well as the fact that hiring tends to be done through networks and referrals.”

Cultural differences

For a third perspective on working in Norway when you’re from another country, Benjamin Cretois has six years of first-hand experience.

Benjamin Cretois

Originally from Normandie in France, he first came to Norway for a mandatory six-month internship as part of his Master’s Degree in Environment and Law. Now, he’s settled in at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Trondheim, where he holds a position as Researcher in AI and Biodiversity.

One of the things Benjamin cherishes about working in Norway, is the relatively flat hierarchy in it’s corporate culture.

“No one’s trying to act like the boss or tell people ‘you need to do what I tell you to’, and that’s something that I really appreciate. People can focus on their work without worrying too much about things that aren’t relevant for the work that they do”, he says.

Compared to France, the Norwegian system is largely based on flexibility and trust.

“Sometimes I leave work earlier to walk my dog, and my colleagues will assume that I will catch up later. In France, a typical workday is from 08.00 to 18.00, but at the end of the day, I doubt that they are more productive there than here”, Benjamin says.

Still, there’s room for the occasional misunderstanding rooted in social conventions and cultural differences.

“My partner and I bought an apartment recently, and there was this condominium meeting in the building where we were supposed to vote over certain issues. The guy who led the meeting actually asked me if it was OK that he spoke Norwegian, and I said ‘yeah, no problem’.”

“After a lot of talking the meeting was suddenly over, and I was like, ‘did we vote for something?’. Then they explained to me that if everyone is silent, it counts for a yes.” “I may have unknowingly voted for raising the living costs. I guess that’s funny and not funny at the same time.”

Plan ahead!

When asked what advice he would give a compatriot starting a career in Norway, Benjamin Cretois is quick to answer: “Get used to the dark! Here in Trondheim, we have four hours of daylight in the middle of December. Coming from a country where there's sun all year, that can be hard getting used to, and many Norwegians get depressed by the darkness as well.”

“The way I deal with it is by staying active. I do quite a lot of wrestling, jujitsu and things like that, and I try to keep that routine during winter. So if you can deal with the cold weather and the dark, Norway is a great place to live.”

Krzysztof Szczurek agrees with Benjamin’s last assessment. However, he stresses the importance of preparing in advance.

“Planning ahead is essential. Be prepared for a higher cost of living and familiarize yourself with financial policies like the exit tax. On the other hand, take advantage of vibrant networking opportunities through organizations like Tekna and Startuplab. If your goals align with Norway’s focus on innovation and sustainability, making the move is truly rewarding”, he says.

Xiaopeng Li praises the Norwegian work/life balance. He points out that while the pace may be slower and the workload lighter than in some other European countries, the output is comparatively similar.

“Take all the holidays and enjoy nature! Life is more than work. Build meaningful connections and leverage them when it comes to job seeking. Be aware of certain aspects of the Norwegian work culture, such as ‘Janteloven’, but also dare to stand out and speak up.”

You might also be interested in: Working in Norway – without speaking Norwegian?